The present study
investigated the effect of treatment with methanolic extracts of Yin- and
Yang-Chinese tonifying herbs on concanavalin A (Con A)/lipopolysaccharide
(LPS)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation (adaptive immunity) and natural
killer (NK) cell activity (innate immunity) in an ex vivo mouse model.
The results indicated that while treatment with most Yin herbal extracts
potentiated the Con A/LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, only Yang (but
not Yin) herbal extracts stimulated NK cell activity. The differential effects
of Yin- and Yang-Chinese tonifying herbs on innate and adaptive immunity are
consistent with the Chinese medicine theory which depicts the Yin and Yang
functional components of Zheng Qi (vital energy), with the Yang component being
responsible for the first line of defense against invading microorganisms (i.e., innate immunity) and the Yin oner
serving as a follow-up defensive response (adaptive immunity).
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